Stubborn

I have been thinking about something that I am giving thought to not knowing if conclusions reached are the standard thoughts on such matters.  They are my thoughts, and my conclusions at this point.  They can change and may be right or wrong,  but they are the way I feel right now.
I have been considering stubbornness.  As far as I can see it is both a good quality and bad.  I see it as a good quality in matters that are needful and right.  As far as I am concerned it is on a par with single mindedness and determination in the face of opposition and perseverance. 
To me there are times when such a quality is desirable.  I know I need it when facing things that I would normally yield to, to my own detriment.  To me it is a quality that can see me through.  It is important when coming through to the other side matters.
Yet it seems to me it can also be an undesirable quality too.  It seems to depend on if I am open or closed.  If I am an open person and can exhibit stubbornness knowing that if I am wrong in what I am stubborn about, I willingly step away and change directions.  I can remain stubborn but willingly yield when the cause is not beneficial or one which is not right for me to pursue at the time.
But it seems to me I am the one that suffers if I remain stubborn for stubbornness sake.  When all around me tell me the contrary, and all around have my best interests at heart and I remain stubborn.  I am stubborn not because of the rightness of my cause (though in my mind I am right) but because I am unwilling to consider I may be wrong.  Maybe I should listen and where necessary yield.
  My stubbornness can be built on a lifetime of being that way.  Yet because I have done something one way all my life does not make it right.  As said before there are times when it is necessary and right.  There are other times when it is the right response but for the wrong reason.
There is probably a better word that can be held up as a virtue than stubbornness but it is a quality I feel is advantageous in the right circumstances.